Yesterday I posted 20 US Schools Where You Can Earn a Degree in Biblical Counseling. Today, I’m highlighting schools outside the US that teach biblical counseling.

International Higher Ed Training in Biblical Counseling

A few thoughts and “caveats”:

• Because of language and cultural differences, I acknowledge that in most cases I do not know a great deal about these schools or their exact approach to biblical counseling.

• I’ve sought to depend upon recommendations from trusted leaders in the international biblical counseling world.

• If you have feedback on these schools or have information on other international educational institutes with programs in biblical counseling, please use the Comment feature or email me.
• In most cases I have only included schools that have full degree programs in biblical counseling. However, I have included some schools below that currently only have individual biblical counseling courses, but have a vision to develop full BC programs.

Christ Bible Seminary (CBS) (Of Christ Bible Institute): CBS is in Japan and is connected with Christ Bible Institute, the Joy of Japan church planting center, and the Christian Counseling for Japan Project. There is not currently a full degree program in biblical counseling. However, Ric Rodeheaver is teaching a biblical counseling course at the seminary. For a two-part blog post at the Biblical Counseling Coalition by Pastor Rodeheaver on Biblical Counseling in the Land of the Rising Sun visit Part 1 and Part 2. Here is a link to the seminary programs.

Czech Bible Institute: CBI offers a Program in Biblical Counseling. Their summary:

This program is designed to equip students to accurately interpret the Scripture and discern how to appropriately apply the Scripture in truth and grace in evangelism, counseling, and discipleship. The intent of the program is to be practical, and emphasize the practical skills of counseling without neglecting the solid biblical foundations on which these skills are built.

Doane Baptist Seminary, Iloilo, Philippines: You can learn about biblical counseling courses and professors from DBS at the Overseas Instruction in Counseling site here.

The European Bible Training Center (EBTC) (Germany, Switzerland, Austria): EBTC is a bi-vocational Bible school. All faculty and staff acknowledge the inerrancy, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture. EBTC is a Member School The Master’s Academy International (TMAI). TMAI is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by training indigenous church leaders to be approved pastor-teachers, able to equip churches to make biblically-sound disciples. EBCT offers training in biblical counseling. In their own words:

The Biblical Counseling program is geared towards regular church members who desire to grow in their ability to disciple others. It exists to advance practical biblical counseling ministry in the church and provide support for this very important work. Biblical counseling is not a subject limited only to church leaders. It is the responsibility of every believer to encourage one another in love. As in other areas of life, so it is with biblical counseling that the Bible gives specific instructions and patterns by which our counseling ministries should be evaluated. We ought to consider how we can better serve our brothers and sisters in the faith according to the pattern Jesus has set for us. And what better way to serve your neighbor than to care for his soul? When it comes to counseling we do not want to merely give advice. Rather, we want to come alongside our friends in word and deed with counsel that is specifically from the Bible. In this way our hearts and minds will be set on our sovereign God above so that we may honor and glorify him.

Kyiv (Ukraine) Theological Seminary: They offer an MA in Biblical Counseling in association with Overseas Instruction in Counseling. Their Mission Statement:

The mission of the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling degree program at Kyiv Theological Seminary is to train pastors and Christian leaders to skillfully use the Word of God in personal discipleship (1 Tim. 4:16; Heb. 4:12). Students learn to keep close watch of their own hearts (Mt. 7:5), leading them to God (Mt. 22:37-38), to provide appropriate biblical counsel individually (1 Thess. 5:14), and to train others to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2).

The Master Academy International (TMAI): TMAI is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by training indigenous church leaders to be approved pastor-teachers, able to equip churches to make biblically-sound disciples. Find links to their member schools here. Some of those schools provide training in biblical counseling (including some of the schools listed in this blog post).

TMAI Russia: The Samara Center for Biblical Training, through The Master Academy International, offers training in biblical counseling.

TMAI Singapore/China: Through Grace Bible Seminary and The Master Academy International, TMAI Singapore/China offers a certificate and an MA in Biblical Counseling.

The Master’s Seminary Spanish: TMS has pastoral training in Spanish, including training in pastoral care and biblical counseling.

National Theological College and Graduate School (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon): NTCGC offers several courses in biblical counseling.

Novosibirsk Bible Theological Seminary (NBTS): NBTS in Siberia, Russia offers an MA in Biblical Counseling.

Oak Hill College (OHC): OHC is in the UK. While they do not yet have a full degree program in biblical counseling, there are two modules that relate to BC. Those courses are taught by Steve Midgley and Andrew Nicholls who both provide leadership for Biblical Counselling UK. Watch this Biblical Counseling Coalition video interview with Steve Midgley about BC in the UK. At OHC, they offer Pastoral Theology and Care which all those studying for the two-year foundation degree take. They also offer Advanced Pastoral Counselling which some in the three-year BA take.

Overseas Instruction in Counseling (OIC): OIC, under the leadership of Dr. Wayne Vanderwier, provides international training in biblical counseling around the world. You can learn about their MA in Biblical Counseling here. Follow this link to a thought-provoking OIC post: Reflections on Doing International Biblical Counseling Training. Here’s OIC’s Vision: 

Our vision is to glorify God through the spiritual strengthening of believers and churches around the world. The Apostle Paul is best known as a church planting missionary. But Paul didn’t just begin churches and leave them on their own. A vital part of his ministry was church strengthening, a ministry he accomplished both through personal visits (Acts 14:22; 15:41; 18:23) and through letters. Because developing – sometimes already mature – Christian ministries now exist in most places in the world, OIC is a church strengthening ministry. We exist to help the church provide biblical sufficiency-based soul care for believers that are struggling with the challenges of living in a fallen world among fallen people. Our training strengthens churches in their ministry of restoring broken believers to the grace of God.

SEMBEQ: SEMBEQ is a seminary in French-speaking Canada. “As commissioned by its association of churches, SEMBEQ exists to assist in raising up the next generation of Christians in Quebec. Specifically, SEMBEQ acts as a tool of the local churches in the training of their members and leaders. As a context-based and church-based seminary, most of SEMBEQ’s courses are taught within local churches. In some cases, a regional center will host courses that bring several churches together for the training.” SEMBEQ offers undergraduate and graduate programs in biblical counseling. Matthieu Caron is a lead professor in biblical counseling for SEMBEQ. Click here for an interview with Matthieu with the Biblical Counseling Coalition.

Strengthening Ministries Training Institute (SMTI) (South Africa): SMTI is pursuing an MA in Biblical Counseling. To learn more about the planned design of that MABC visit their Modules site. Lead by Wayne Mack, Sybrand de Swardt, and Cillie Malan, “the master’s degree course presented by Strengthening Ministries Training Institute is comprised of modules suited to equip pastors and Christians to counsel from God’s Word.”

Join the Conversation 

What other international schools would you add to this list of higher education institutions with a commitment to biblical counseling?